UFC featherweight champion, Max Holloway, was supposed to defend his title at UFC 226 pay-per-view (PPV) event against undefeated Brian Ortega scheduled for (July 7, 2018) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, but Holloway pulled out due to concussion-like symptoms last Wednesday.
It left Ortega without dancing partner. At the pre-fight press conference UFC president, Dana White said, we tried to get the Jeremy Stephens in for short notice fight, but Ortega turned down the bout, as he was interested in fighting with ‘Blessed’ only.
Ortega took to social media and defended his decision of turning down the short-notice replacement opponents and why to wait for Holloway fight:
“I’m a businessman, a company man, but I’m no yes man,” Oretega write on social media. “Watching the fights last night knowing I could have been performing for all of you truly took a toll on me. I stand by my decision. Thank you to all of you who showed up to support and respected my decision. For those of you who don’t agree with me I completely understand and promise to give you guys the show of your life when I fight for the title.”
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Ortega, who remains undefeated with a record of 14-0 (1 NC), has looked unstoppable since joining the UFC and most recently coming off a knockout win over former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.
UFC also tried to hook Jeremy Stephens with Frankie Edgar, but Edgar turned down by saying he needs more to train.
At the moment Holloway’s future is uncertain, due to the unclear diagnosis of ‘Blessed’ make Dana white to say no way this guy is fighting anytime soon.
